Thailand Officially Welcomes Digital Nomads With This New Visa

Thailand has always been a popular destination for digital nomads, but now it has been made official with a new visa, allowing them to stay for up to a year. Whether exploring the gorgeous scenery, enjoying the beaches, or exploring historic cities, this is good news indeed for remote workers. Read on to find out more about applying for the new visa.

Digital nomads can stay for up to a year in Thailand

Digital nomads are currently exploring the world, working from wherever they want while giving themselves some time off to explore their latest destination. Thailand is already hugely popular for remote workers, but now they are officially welcoming digital nomads to their shores.

The Southeast Asian nation’s digital nomad visa has taken its time in coming, but finally, the visa will launch in the coming weeks. Moreover, digital nomads will be able to live and work in Thailand for up to a year at a time. Dubbed the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Foreign Ministry Spokesman Chai Wacharonke said in May that it “targets digital nomads, remote workers and freelancers, as well as those who want to learn muay Thai [boxing] and Thai cuisine.”

Meanwhile, a multiple-entry visa is valid for five years offering travelers a stay of up to 180 days with the chance to extend for a further 180 days. Meanwhile, most European travelers could visit Thailand on a visa exemption for 30 days, with the chance to extend for a further 30 days. However, they were not permitted to work during their stay.

Who can apply for the digital nomad visa and at what cost?

Obviously, the new visa for digital nomads is welcome and not only does it apply to remote workers and freelancers, it also applies to those seeing cultural experiences in the country.

As mentioned by the official, this includes those wishing to take a course in Thai cooking, learning the traditional martial art of Thai boxing, or other sports training. Moreover, anyone attending seminars, performing at music festivals, or seeking medical treatment could also be eligible for the new visa. Meanwhile, spouses and dependent children of DTV holders are also covered.

As for the cost, the application fee for Thailand’s digital nomads visa is 10,000 Thai baht ($273) and the visa is expected to be available in late June or early July.

Moreover, at the same time as the new DTV, Thailand is making plans to boost tourism. As of June this year, the country’s visa extension scheme now applies to 93 countries and territories, an increase from the previous 57 countries. With the new scheme, this applies to 60-day stays for tourism and short-term business engagements, which doubles the previous 30 days. Meanwhile, the newly eligible countries include Croatia, Albania, Morocco, Kosovo and others.

Meanwhile, those over 50 and looking for a sunny retirement will be pleased to hear that the previous requirements to have insurance coverage worth 3 million Thai baht ($82,264). This has now been reduced to 440,000 Thai baht ($12,061).